Selecting and signaling system.



"No. 831,687. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906. R.J.SHBBHY. SELECTING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.9, 1902.

2 SHBBTSSHEET 1.

0000000000 000000000 OOOOOOOOOO No; 831,687- PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906.

R. J. SHEEHY.

. SELECTING AND SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED 001m, 1992,.

2 sums-sum 2'.

ROBERT SHEEHY,

A'l ET @FFICE.

or NEW YORK, Y.

SELECDTING AND SlGNALlNG SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed October 9, 1902. Serial No. 126,507.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. SHEEHY, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city, county, and State of New Yor have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Selectin and Signaling Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more especially to railroad and municipal telegraph and signaling systems and to any system wherein it is desired. to communicate with one or more stations on a circuit to the exclusion of others.

comprehends an organization in which the central or main office operator may at pleasure select and connect his apparatus with any one of several instruments in the circuit, and as secondary to this operation at the time of such selection one or more charactors of automatic signals may be displayed or thrown into operation at the selected substation.

Tao invention further consists in an organization having the following characteristics: First, a telegraphic instrument of any dochracter-such, for instance, as a recorder or printing telegra or toncphone ma be connected. into the or tat the selects stat1on,correspond ing instruments being available at the central or main station; second, upon the selection of any one of a number of stations onthe line the selected station when called sends automatically to the central office a returnsignal indicating that the desired station has been proper y selected and is ready for communication: third, the central-office operator may successively select one, two, or more ions upon inc line and place them in communior on with each other and with the central offioe; fourth, the central oflice operator may at will simultaneously introduce the instruments at all of the stations into the linecircuit for communication of general orders; fifth, each station may be provided with an emergency call by which the operator at any one station in case of accident or other emergency may instantly communicate with the central office irrespective of the condition of the circuit and of the connection of the centi'ahoiiice instruments with other stations; sixth, the condition of the circuit is 'auto matically indicated at each station, so that the individual operators at the several stations may linpw whether or not the line is free for their use",

In carrying out the invention'l employ currents of alternating polarity. All the in struments being normally at unison, the station selected in any given instance is determined by the number of alternating impulses trausmitted to bring the apparatus of the desired station to such point as to properly connect its instruments for communication with those at the central office. lVhenever a station is thus selected, the central office apparatus comes to rest always with a given pole of the main battery to line. As shown in the drawings, it is the negative pole. When communication between a selected I station and the central office has been completed, the operator may transmit over the dine a sufficient number of impulses to bring :all the instruments to the unisonpoint, or he may select any other station by transmitting a sufficient number of alternating impulses tobring the apparatus of the desired station into position to introduce its instruments in the line. Whenever a station is selected, the automatic apparatus there located sends to the central .office a return-signal, which may be the number by which the station is designated, to advise the operator that the :proper station has been selected, so that he may proceed with his communication,the proper telegraph apparatus having a t the same time been introduced into the line at the selected station. In some instances, and more especially in raihoachwork, it is desirable that the ccntrahoiiice operator should be able at the time of selecting any one station to automatically display there a signal. Thisienables him to act promptly and give waiting to communicate with. the operator at the selected station. I provide an arrangement whereby the central-oflice operator is enabled to bring the apparatus of any substation into two positions, in one of which a safety-signal is automatically dis played and in the other a danger-signal, and in either case the telegraphic apparatus at the selected station is introduced into the only necessary for him to arrest his apparatus' with the positive pole of the main bat tery to line. The armature-levers ofthepolarized instruments at all-,the substations then pause uponthe stops other than those.

on which they pause when the stations are being selected. The polarized instruments in that event control circuit connections that introduce into the line the instruments at all the stations, and in connection with this operation at each station a signal may be sounded or displayed to call the attention of the operators or for any other purpose.

If the pole-changing apparatus at the central station is constructed to send to line thirty impulses of alternating polarity, there would be fifteen impulses of each polarity transmitted for each revolution of the shaft of the master instrument, and in order to make proper selection of substations and operate their telegraphic apparatus 1' make use of fourteen impulses of negative polarity. This permits seven substations on the line, each station having two numbers or points of rest. The fifteenth impulse of negative polarity, which would be the last impulse given by the pole changing device, is utilized as a point of rest for the entire apparatus in circuit, and when switch 15 is'plugged the apparatus at all stations will be at the zeropoint and a clear signal displayed at each station.

In event of any one or more of the substation apparatus getting out of step with the master instrument the desp atcher or centraloffice operator can bring all instruments to unison by allowing the shaft of the master instrufnent to make, say, three revolutions and then insert plug in switch 15, the shafts in the devices at the substations being arranged to go to unison on two revolutions. On the other hand, if it is desired that the. apparatus at each substation shall be brought to a single position only, then with thirty alternating impulses in a revolution of the shaft of the pole-changer there may be fourteen substations on the line, and in such case the fifteenth position in which the ap paratus pauses with the negative pole of the battery to line may be utilized to set all the instruments at unison and to automatically display in each substation a signal indicating to the operator that the line is clear.

n the accompanying drawings 1 have illustrated the invention in a form which experience has demonstrated to be efiicient and satisfactory. Obviously, however, the details of the instruments as well as general circuit connections may be modified by those skilled in the art without departing from the' inventionl Flgure 1 1s a -d1agrammat1cal view illustrating the central or despatchers office apparatus; Fig. 2, a similar view of one stati-on, which is No. 6.

'As shown, the apparatus isarranged for seven stations.

,In Fig. 1, MB indicates a main battery,

' and L the line, which may be grounded or connected to a return-conductor. at the central station. The coils of the polarized relay PR'are included in the line, and the main battery is reversed by an automatically-acting pole-changer, a convenient form of which is as follows: Insulated pole-changer contacts a a, with which the sides of the line are connected, are carried upon an escap'ementlever B, alternately actuated in opposite.

directions. erating in connection with contacts connected with the main battery successively reverse the current on the line. The escapemcntlever B is alternately acted upon by two magnets C C and drives the shaft C A trailer 0. on this shaft sweeps a circle of segments, the alternate ones ofwhich are insulated from each other and are connected with plug-contacts; segment'l is connected by wire as with plug-contact 1 ;-seglment 1, by

wire m with plug-contact 1 T e plug-contacts 1. and 1 are arranged on opposite sides of a contact-block 1 connected bywire y with stop 2" of the main line relay PR, upon which the relay armature-lever remains when the negative pole of the battery is left to line. Inlike manner the succeeding segments, as 2 and 2, 3 and 3', &c., are respectively connected with theplug-contacts of the plugswitches 2 3, &c., the central contact-block in each plug-switch is connected in like manner by wire y with the relay-stop z. The fifteenth of these insulated segments is connected by wire at with a plug-contact 15, the companion contact'15 of which-is connected by wire 3 with the stop 2 of the relay. I

The fifteen intervening segments are connected together, being shown in the drawings as teeth projecting from a single plate, and from. a point marked 16 a wire 90 connects them with a plug-contact 16, the companion contact 16 of which is connected by wire z with relay-contact 3 upon which the relay armature-lever remains when the positive pole of the battery is left to line. A local battery LB hasone pole connected through the escapement-magnet C to the relay-stop z and by a branch circuit through the escapement-r'nagnet O with the other contact-post y of the relay; The opposite pole, of this bat' tery is connected with armature-lever of the relay PR and by wire 2 with trailer C If now all of the plug-switchesare unplugged, it will be obvious that the automatic rotation of the shaft C will continuously take place, and with the vibrations of the escapementlever the main battery will be reversed upon the line each time that the trailer passes from one segment to another. If, however, switch 15 is plugged, as shown in-the drawings', the apparatus will be brought to rest with the armature of the polarized relay PR The pole-changer contacts op-.

upon its contact y and the negative pole of the -battery will remain to line; Current from battery LB will then be directed through magnet C but, the switch 15 being plugged,

when the trailer comes in contact with segment the circuit of battery LB is completed through magnet C, and, owing to the close proximity of the armature to its core, the escapement-lever 16 will be held in the position shown and the negative pole of main battery will remain to line. On removing the plu from switch 15 the circuit of. magnet C will be broken and magnet C" will attract its armature, moving the escape ment-lever and causing a reversal of the main battery, upon which armaturedever of polarized relay PR will pass to its contactstop 2, thereby transferring the current from magnet C to magnet C and causing the escapement-lever to be moved in the opposite direction to advance the trailer (3 When switch 16 is plugged, the armature of magnet C will be held down and the positive pole of the main battery will remain to line. This is the condition made use of to introduce the apparatus at all the stations into circuit. /Vhen switch 15 is plugged, the po sition of the apparatus is that corresponding with unison at all of the instruments, and in this positiona clear-signal is displayed at all of the stations. If it is desired, for instance, to select station No. 6, the centraloflice operator puts a plug into the plug switch 6 and then removes the plug from the unison-switch 15. The automatic move- ..anent of the trailer then commences, and the rest, twenty-two alternating impulses having been transmitted to bring the apparatus of station 5 into one of the positions to which it is capable of being brought. If the plug had been inserted into the right-hand hole, the trailer would have continued its movement to the contact 6 and twenty-four alternating impulses would have passed over the circuit and the apparatus at station 6 would have been brought into its second position. In either case the instruments at station 6 will. be introduced into the circuit and a signal displayed, the character of the signal depending upon the position of the apparatus at the selected station. a In similar manner any one of the seven stations may be selected and brought into either ofthe'two positions de sired. At any time the apparatus at all stations may be' brought to the unison-point. by removing the plugs from the station-switches and plugging the unison-switch 15. v i

It isobvious that instead of the driving escapement such as illustrated in Fig. 1 any other well-known form of escapement may be employed.

If the central-ofiice operator plugs the switch 16, which is connected with the fifteen segments intervening between the insulated paratus in the central or despatchers oflice,

one an ordinary printer controlled by a-relay and the other a Morse set having both a sounder and a recorder, either of which. may be used, the instrument being operated by an ordinary neutral relay, as shown. An ordinary Morse key is placed in the circuit r'or' transmission to any of the stations. At each substation, as at station 6, represented in Fig. 2, the line passes through an emer encycall box and the coils of the polarize relay PR to a spring-contact (i, normally bearing upon fixed contact (1, through spring-contact e, bearing upon the fixed contact 6, and spring-contact f, bearing upon fixed contact f. The. circuit then passes'through rheostat Rh and winding of unison-releasing magnet G to the arm H of a gang-switch from the contact of which the line extends. The vibrations of the polarized relay PR alter-. nately close the local circuits of two escapement-magnets 'I I, which may be traced as follows: from one pole of the local battery LB through the coil of escapenient-magnet 1 to stop p of the polarized relay, thence fromthe armaturedever of the polarized relay to the shaft K of the escapement-wheel L, and thence to theopp'osite pole of the battery. The circuit of the other escapement-magnet is from the same pole of the battery LB through the magnet I to the stop p of the polarized relay and thence through the armature-lever of the relay to the opposite pole of the battery. As the armature of the relay vibrates between its stops in response to alternating currents received over the line the escapement-magnets are alternately energized, and the escapement-lever causesthe 'step-by-step rotation of the escapem'ent wheel. The shaft K of the escapementwheel carries a contact-pin 7c, projecting radially therefrom and making contact succesv The sively with three contact-arms f 2 e 9 latter is the unison-contact, and when the apparatus is rotated into the unison position the contact-pin 7c bears against contact g and the armature-lever of polarized relay PR remains against its stop 1), with the ne ative pole o the main battery to line.- In t 's net is energized is thrown in front of the openpulses would bring pin ing in the box and displays the word Clear. Thence the local circuit extends by wire 9 to one pole of local battery LB, the opposite poleof which is connected to the shaft of the escapementwheel. The esca ement-wheel shaft and pin 76 move in the .irection indicated by the arrow. The eleventh. negative impulse over the line will have advanced pin it into contact with arm 2 and the twelfth negative impulse into contact with arm e The thirteenth and fourteenth negative imk into contact with corresponding spring-arms in station 7. The unison-pin 7c being set to a given position on escapement-shafts K in the various stations, the contact-pins 7c, carried by said shafts, are set in suitable positions on the shafts. For instance, in station 1 the contact-pin 7c should be so placed that the first negative impulse will bring it into contact with a spring-arm at station 1 corresponding to spring-arm f the second negative impulse will bring it into contact with arm e at station 1.

The unison-release magnet Gmay be placed in circuit with the clear-signal magnet on 10- cal line g and may be made use of to display the clear-signal as well as release the unisonpin. The unison pin device S indicated may be the same as the well-known Edison unison and other electric apparatus. Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in the drawings, both in Figs. 1 and 2, and that the central-office operator desires to call station 6, the operator plugs, for instance, the left-hand hole in the switch 6 and removes the plug from unison-switch 15. The automatic operation of the apparatus thereupon commences, and reverse currents from the main battery are regularly sent into the line. Whenthe trailer reaches the segment 6, the action of the escapement is arrested and the armature-lever of the relay'PR pauses upon its contact 11 and the negative pole of the battery is to line. At the same time the armature-lever of the polarized relay PR at station 6 pauses upon its contact p, and. the contact-pin k on the shaft of the escapementwheel at station 6 is arrested in contact with spring-arm f In this condition of the apparatus a local circuit from the battery LB is completed asfollows: from one pole of the battery to the shaft of escapement'wheel, pin 7c, arm f and coil iofmagnet F to oppodevice adapted to printing-telegraph site pole of the battery. Tlie'armature-lever of magnet F is attracted, its upper en the contact-spring from its contact-post f and the normal main-line circuit is interrupted, being new diverted from 7", through the armature-lever of the magnet F, to wire f, connected with one plate f of a spring{ jack, whose opposite platef is connected by with a contact-arm m of the returnsignal apparatus, thence through the circuitbreaking wheel M, and by line beyond the station.

Two eflects result from this ai'ztion.

d lifts wire? to the main First, the armature-lever of the magnet F I in being drawn forward completes a local circuit (indicated in local battery and the coil of a magnet O. The armature-lever of this magnetb'eing attracted releases a semaphore of an ordinary construction, which iii-dropping may close a local circuit for sounding an alarm, 0 representing a signal electric bell in such circuit. The semaphore and alarm may in railroadwork be either a danger or safety signal.

Second, the return signaling apparatus is dotted lines) containing aset in operation to automatically send to the central oflice a signal which may be the numberof the station. This is accomplished as follows: The lower end of thearmaturedever of magnet F carries an insulated contact m, which when the armature is attracted comes a ainst a contact-post connected with one pble of the local battery LB. The opposite pole of the battery is connected by wire g to a contact-post m at the returnsignal appara tus, upon which a contact-spring m normally bears, and isconnec'ted with one terminal of the coil of the return-signal magnet N, whose opposite terminal is connected by wire m with the insulated contact 172/ on the armature-lever of the magnet F. The magnet N being energized, its escapement armaturelever is attracted, and one of the pallets thereof drives the escapement-wheel N one step, and a toothed wheel N moving with it, comes against a point it on contact-spring m pressing it out of engagement with the stop at and interrupting the local circuit. Thereupon the escapement-lever is attracted by its spring, the other escapem-ent-pallet drives the wheel another step, and the point 'h on the contact spring m drops between the teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and the local circuit is reestablished. This operation being repeated, the escapement-wheel is advanced step by step, driving, by a pinion and gear wheel N the circuit breaking wheel M, which, revolving in contact with arm m, interrupts the main circuit six. times at three equidistant points upon its periphery. Such rcturn-signal may be received at the central IOO tact m, the latter being, connected, through wire g, with one pole of the local battery LB. The spring m is connected with a spring m7, that projects into the path of a pin m on the ratchet-wheel N. At the time that the pin on the circuit-breaking wheel forces against m pin m comes into contact with spring m and a circuit of the local battery LB is completed from m through mic/a and mt, by wire m through the coil 'of magnet N and by Wire m and insulated contact m on the armature-lever of magnet F to the opposite pole of the battery. The 'returneiginal apparatus is now held at rest, the armature of magnet N remaining" attracted until the armature-lever of magnet F is released on the station apparatus being disconnected from the main line, at which time the local circuit just traced is' opened. at the contact m, the escapenie'nt armature-lever of magnet N is retracted by its spring,

and the escapement-wheel is advanced one step t-;: carry the pin m out of engagement with the contact-spring m and restore the ap )aratus to its normal condition. Station 6- having been called, the danger or safety signal displayed, and the return-signal sentyto the central office, communicationwith the central office maybe carried on by means of any suitable telegraphic appara tusfor instance, by means of apparatus Q, connected to the contacts of a jack-plug Q, which is shown out of the jack f f", but which is designed to be normally inserted. Of course the loop, including the apparatus Q, may contain an ordinary relay and outfit.

To enable the operator at any station to .call up the central or despatchers otlice, the

following arrangement is provided: hen the clear signal indicates that the line is free tor use, the operator at any station may throw the gang-switch ll H into the lower position, when the main-line circuit will be transferred through the switch-arm ll and wire It to the contact-arm 'm, resting on the rcturn-signal wheel. arm ii of the gang-switch is brought into connection with wire 11/ eta local circuit,which tral o'llice plu s either of the holes or" the switch 6, andthereupon the pole-changer at thegcentralofiice is set'in operation and the apparatus of the substation is introduced At the sametiine the into the circuit, as already described. The movement of theapparatus at the various stations opens the local circuits at the points it g through the magnetof the clear-signal apparatus, and thereupon a signal indicating that the line is in use is displayed. ing-station may now communicate with the There is a possibility of two stations calling the central oihce at the same time or of a second station calling before the despatcher at the central oi'lice has had opportunity to plug the switch of the station first'calling, and in that event there would be a confusion receiving instrument atthe central ofiice. Should. this occur, the operator at the central office could send a general call to all the stations, as hereinafter described, ascertain which stations had called, and instruct them as to the order of their communication with. the central ollice. Should. the despatcher at the central ollice desire or be required to place two or more of the stations on the line in connnunication with each other and with the central oliice, he may proceed as follows: Assuming, for instance, that stations 6 and '7 are to be placed in communication with each other, the despatcher may first select one of to hold his apparatus in position for communication. This might be conveniently eflever R when depressed mechanically holds the escapement-lever of the magnets l l in the position it assumes when the station has been selected. The despatcher then calls the other station, and they arein communication with each other and with, the central oiiice.

time running all the instruments to the uni son-point is desirable. here a station has been called and the apparatus held mechanically, as just described, it will be thrown out of step ortiine with the appzitratus at the other stations, and on completion of com munication it is necessary to run all the ap paratus to the unisoitpoiiit. For this purpose the ordinary pin 5: and unis n1-worrn S on the escapemer'-v;heel, cooperating with armature-lever ,ot unison-release magnet G, may be employed. The magnet G is so constructed and wound that during the time the alternating .in'ipuls 38 are travcrsingthe line it is not charged suiliciently to attract its armature-lever, and cimsequently when the shaft S of the escapeinent-wheel at each station 3 has run to the unison-point it is arr stezl by I the pin 8, as is well understood. When this point has been reached, however, the action oi the polcchanger is arrested at the central i station because the muslin-switch i has been I lug ed and the negative pole of the main The call-- central oflice to the exclusion of all others.

the stat-ions and instruct the operator there fected in the following, manner: The key or Some suitable unison device for at any of signals upon the recorder or other signal- HUI.

' left-hand hole of the station plug-switch at the central oflice. to select a station for instance, No. 3with the apparatus thereof in the second position,

, which may bethat in which a dangeresignal should be automatically displayed, he plugs to the right-hand-hole of the switch 3 at the central office. The escapement-wheel K is thus brought into a position in which the pin it comes in contact with the arm e The 10- cal circuit from the battery L B through the coils of the magnet E is therefore completed, the armature-lever of the magnet is attracted, and the local connections established precisely as already described in connection with the completion of the circuit of the magnet F. The local circuit completed upon the movement of the armature-lever, as indicated indotted lines, may contain an apparatus similar ,to O, or any other suitable apparatus, and on its. completion may display a danger-signal, itbeing assumed that the signal that will be displayed when the magnet F attracts its armature is the safety-signal. Obviously the same signaling apparatus may be operated by both of these local circuits, one causing it to display a safety-signal and theother a danger-signal.

v In the event of accident or any condition arising rendering it imperative for the operator at'a station to' call the central office with out regard to the fact that the line is in'use I have provided an emergency-call box located in the line at each station. This box may be similar to ordinary signal or messenger callboxes, and when operated it is designed to give a special or emergency signal at the cen tral station and the number of the station from which it is sent. For instance, the box at station 3 might send in the signal D Q 3, and the despatcher at the central office may thereupon instantly connect himself with the station. whereby the despatcher at the central office may simultaneously introduce the instrumenls of all stations into the main line. When switch 16 at the central office is plugged, the armature-lever of the polarized relay there is arrested in contact with its stop 2", and the pole-changer is held in such position that the positive pole of "the-main battery remains to line. Consequently the If the despatcher desires- It is desirable to provide means s31,es7

armature-levers of the polarized relays P R at the different stations remain in contact with their posts p The escapement-magnet I is therefore charged bythe completion of the local circuit, and the escapement-lever' is thrown thereby into the opposite position from that which it always assumes when a station has beenindividually selected, and the escapement-wheel is moved one step. The arrangement of contacts f 0 9' and 7c is suchthat when the escapement-wheel is so held the point It cannot be in'contact with either of the other contacts, and the circuits of magnets E and F cannot be completed. The armature of the polarized relay P R when it comes to rest, as just described, with the positive pole of'themain batteryto line, comes against an additional contact-post T. Local circuit of a magnet U is completed as follows: from'one pole ofthe local battery L B to the armature-lever of the polarized relay, its contact T, through the coil of the magnet U to the opposite'pole of the battery. The magnet attracts its armature-lever, which lifts spring-contact d from its contactpost cl, and the main-line circuit is opened at this contact and transferred, through the armature-lever and wire it, to one jaw uota spring-jack, the other jaw 11, of which-is connected by wire to to the switch-arm H. The spring-jack u a may have plugged to it any suitable telegraphic apparatus, such as hereinbefore suggested. The armature-lever of.

the magnet U when attracted also'completes a local circuit a, indicated in dotted lines, which may contain a semaphore or other apparatus that calls the operators attention to the fact that a general call hasbeen sent from the central ofiice.

Of course it is to be understood, as describedin connection with the unison-magnet, that neither of the magnets U, E, and F are sufficiently charged by the brief completions of their local circuits during the regular vibrations of the polarized-relay armature and the regular step-by-step motion of the escapement mechanism; but when the apparatus is arrested with the negative pole of the battery remaining to line the magnet E or F is charged at any station selected and too 7 attracts its armature-lever, and when the armature -'lever of the polarized relay P R comes to rest with the positive pole of the batterytoline the magnets U at all stations are sufficiently charged. to attract their ar mature-levers and effect the operation already described.

In circuit with the magnet G at each sta- 7 tion is an adjustable rheostat Rh. It is designed that the normal resistance ateach station, including the polarized relay, rheostat,

and magnet G, shallequal substantially the resistance of-the circuit when the instruments at the station are connected in the cir-" cuit for communication at the central office.

I claim as my invention- ,1. The combination of the pole-changer, the relay, the lever carrying the pole-changer, the magnets controlling the lever, the escape inent device, two series of alternating contacts, switching devices with which the contacts of one series are respectivelyconnected, a switching device with which the contacts'of the other series are connected, a trailing contact-maker, operating and connecting with the two series of contacts, and the local circuits, substantially as described, whereby the pole-changer may be brought to rest in one position to leave a given pole of the battery to line, with the trailing contact-maker in contactwith the desired contact of one series, and may be brought to rest with the opposite pole ofthe battery to line, and the trailing contact-maker in contact with any one of the contacts of the other series substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of two series of contacts; a switch device having contacts for each of the two adjoining contacts in one series, circuit connections between each contact and its corresponding switch-contact, a switch device with which all the contacts of the other series are connected, a contactmaker for successively making contact with all the contacts of the two series, the controlling-magnet C C, the local circuits, and the polarized relay substantially as set forth.

'3. The combination of a main battery, a'

line, a pole-changer for sending reverse currents to line, means for bringing it "to rest, after the transmission of any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line, a'series ofstations connected with the line and'each having a polarized relay in the line, two local circuits controlled at the steps of said relay, a magnet in each circuit, the magnets of the two circuits being alternately energized, apparatus at said station actuated step by step by said magnets, contacts con trolled by said apparatus, and adapted to be brought into connection upon transmission of a given number of alternating impulses being sent over the line, a local circuit controlled at said contacts including a magnet, an armature for said magi'iet, a local circuit controlled-thereby, and automatic returm signal apparatus included in said local circuit, whereby when the apparatus has been brought into proper condition or position a return-signal is transmitted to the central office, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a main battery, a

' line, a poie-changer For sending reverse currents to line, means for bringing it to rest,

after the transmlssion ol' any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line a series of apparatus at dill'erent stathinsponnected with the line and each having a polariaed magaet in the line, local de-' vices controlled-by the magnet at each station for ell'ecting the step-by-step movement of the apparatus at all cl said stations in correspondence with the impulses sent over the line and the arrest of the apparatus at one of said stations after a predetermined number of impulses corresponding with the selection of said station has been transn'iitted over the line, telegraphic instruments at each station,

and local connecting apparatus whereby the normal circuit of the line at the selected station is directed through said telegraphic instruments, so that a central-oilice operator may select any station for communication.

5. The combination of a main .batt'ery, a line, a pole-changer for sending reverse currents to line, means for bringing it to rest, after the transmission of any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the be Ltery to line, a series of stations connected with the line and eachhaving a polarized magnet in the line, local devices controlled by the mag-. net at each station, apparatus at all of said stations actuated step by step by said devices in correspondence with the impulses sent over the line andthe arrest of the apparatus at one of said stations after'a predeten mined number of impulses corresponding with the selection of said station has beentransmitted over the line, telegraphic instruments at each station, local connecting appa-' ratus whereby the normal circuit of the line at the selected station is directed through said telegraphic instruments, and automatic return-signal mechanism through which the line is also directed, whereby the centralolliceoperator may select any station for communication, and a return-signal from the selected station be sent to indicate that the proper station has been selected.

6. The combination of a line having connected therewith a central or despatching station and a number of substations, a main battery, a pole-changer at the central station for sending alternating currents to line, means for bringing it to rest, after the transmission ol' any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line, apparatus at each station for responding step by step to said impulses, means whereby when the apparatus at any station has been advanced a particular number of predeter:nined steps the main-line circuit is directed through telegraphic instruments at-said station, automatic returrusignal devices throu h which the line-circuit is also then directed: and apparatus at the central station for receiving such automatic return-signal, whereby when. a station has thus been selected 'an automatic signal indicating the fact is received at the central oilice.

7. The-combination of a line having connected therewith a centralor despatching sta tion and a nuniberof substations a main bat .tery, a pole-changer'at the central station for sending alternating, currents to l ne, 'means oi any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line, apparatus at each station for responding step by step to said impulses, means whereby when the apparatus at any station has beenadvanced a particular number of predetermined steps the main-line circuit is directed through telegraphic instruments at said station, automatic return-signal devices through which the line-circuit is also then directed, and apparatus atthe central station for receiving such automatic return-signal, whereby when a station'has thus been selected an automatic signal indicating the fact is received at the central office, and a local circuit including signaling apparatus and means for controlling the same when the station has been se lected andits telegraphic apparatus included in the line-circuit. I p

8. The combination of a line having connected therewith a central or despatching station I. and a number of substations, a main battery, a pole-changer at the central station for sending alternating currents to line and adapted to be brought to rest, after the transmission of any given'number of impulses with a given pole of the battery to line, apparatus at each station for responding step by step to said impulses, means whereby when the apparatus at any station has been advanced a particular number of predetermined steps the main-line circuit is directed through telegraphic instruments at said station, a resistance in the normal line-circuit at each station equal to the resistance of thetelcgraphic instru'ments introduced into the-line, and means for eliminating said resistance from the direct line-circuit when the telegraphic instrumen ts are introduced thercinto.

9. The combination of a, line having connected therewith a central or despatching station and a number of substations, a main battery, a pole changer at the central station. for sending alternating currents to line, means for bringing it to rest, after the transmission of any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line, apparatus ateach station that responds to the alternating currents, means for arresting said apparatus at a.

given station in either of two positions each of which is determined by a predetermined number of impulses transmitted from the central station, means for introducing into the line'circuit telegraphic or other instruments when the apparatus. is arrested in either position, and'means locally actuated at said station to'display one signal when the apparatus is arrested in one position and an othersignal when the apparatus is arrested in the other position.

10. A telegraphic or signaling system comprising a main line, a central and sub stations thereon, a main battery, a pole-changer at the central station for sending alternating currents totheline, means for bringing it to rest, after the transmission ofany given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line, apparatus at each station that moves step by step in response to said impulses, means whereby when the apparatus at any station has thus been advanced a particular number of predetermined steps the main-line circuit is directed through teler graphic apparatus at said station, the connections at other stations not being so changed, whereby any substation may be selected for communication with the main office, means at the central ofiice wherebythe pole-changer may be brought to rest with the opposite pole of the main battery to line, and apparatus at each substation for introducing into the line at each station telegraphic instruments Wheneverthe last-mentioned pole of the battery is left to line, whereby the central ofiice may simultaneously connect all stations on the'line for communication.

11. A telegraphic or'signaling system comprising a main line, a central and sub stations thereon, a main battery, a pole-changer at 'the central station for sending alternating currents to line, means for bringing it to rest, after the transmission of any given number of impulses, with a given pole of the battery to line, apparatus at each station that moves step by step in response to said impulses,

means whereby when the apparatus at any station has thus been advanced a particular number of predetermined steps the main-line circuit is directed through telegraphic apparatus at said station, the connections at other stations not being so changed,whereby any substation may be selected for communication with the main ofiice, means at the central office whereby the pole-changer may be brought to rest with the opposite poleof the main battery to line, and apparatus at each substation for introducing into the line at each station telegraphic instruments whenever the last-mentioned pole of the battery is left to line, whereby the central office may simultaneously connect all stations on the line for communication, and an emergencyeall box at each station for sending special signals or calls to the central ofiice.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub scribed my name. i ROBERT J. SHEEHY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. STAHLIN, EDWARD Ci DAVIDS N; 

